Garment supporting and display device



Nov. 24, 1942. l. M; SINCLAIR I 2,303,095

GARMENT SUPPORTING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Maiz ch 4, 1939 INVENTOR. IDA M-.SINCLAIR I ATTORNEY-S Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNIT-ED. si'a r-lss PATENT OFFICE GARMENT s'UPPoR'rnvGnND msr'LAY DEVICE Ida M. Sinclair, Cuyahoga Falls, '0hio Application March 4, 1939, Serial ;No. 259,813 3 Claims. (01. 223-92)v This inventionrelates, as indicated, to a garment-supporting device and more particularly, to a device for facilitating the display of dresses and like garments in a manner indicative of their appearance when actually worn.

In the display ofadress orlike garment to a prospective purchaser, it has heretoforebeen customary for the salesgirl to either hold the garment at arms length supported on an ordinary hanger, or to hold the dress against her person, holding it under her chin. The first method does not convey to the customer an adequat idea of how the dress willappear when worn and the latter method, although conveying a somewhat more accurate impression, is nevertheless unsatisfactory inasmuch as the salesgirl is forced to assume a rather awkward and unprepossessing position, not displaying the garment to best effect, and the neck-piece of the garment may eventually become soiled from such practice.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a device for the display of garments which will permit their display against the person without causing the displaying person to assume an awkward attitude orsoil the garment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the character described which is also suitable for service as an ordinary hanger for supporting the garment in stock.

Another object is to provide a garment hanger I which may be suspended from the person in such a way that the garment may be properly dis-. played thereagainst and leave the hands free to arrange the garment.

Other objects of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but certain of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a simpler embodiment;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a hanger of the general type of that illustrated in Fig. 1 but formed entirely from one piece of wire;

Fig. 4.is an elevational view of a hanger adapted to be supported by a yoke; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of such yoke.

The new hanger of my invention, then, comprises a garment-supportingmember and means operative to engage the person of one displaying said garment so as to support the garment against the body.

More particularly, a preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a garment hanger comprising a garment-supporting member and means operative to suspend said member from a human neck. a

In the drawing, like members in the various figures have been designated by like numerals for convenience in reference thereto in the following description.

Referring now more particularly to the above figures, and especially Figs. 1 and 2, one embodiment of my new device comprises a cross member I which may generally preferably be of smooth wood and a hook member 2, generally of wire. This hook member is generally more or less sharply turned down at its extremity 3 in order that it may retainlits position securely when hung on a wardrobe bar, and the shortest distance between this extremity and the cross member l, as between the extremity 3 and the shoulder 4 in Fig. 1, should be of sufficient extent to 1 permit entrance of the human neck so that the hanger may be suspended therefrom.

Alternatively the hook 2 may be pivotally attached to the cross member I, as shown in Fig. 1,

so that the hook may be swung at right angles to said cross member, the neck inserted, and the hook returned to position without there necessarily having been an opening between points 3 and 4, for example, of suflicient extent to permit direct insertion of the neck. Such pivotal attachment may be obtained by simply fianging or expanding the end 5 of the hook member 2 inserted in the cross member I.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, for example, the

crossmember I may advantageously be bent downwardly in its central portion to form a curved section 6 generally complementary to the curve of the hook member 2. This form of construction is effective to bring the shoulder seams of the garment to approximately actual wearing position, and, at least in the all-wire forms such as that shown in Fig. 3, no more expensive.

When an all-wire form such as that illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing is desired, the construction may advantageously be formed of one piece of wire, one extremity I of which may be wrapped around, soldered to, or, as shown, preferably spot welded to the body of the wire. Projections 8 at the ends of the garment-supporting cross member aid in preventing narrow shoulder strap dresses, such as the formal dresses now in fashion. from slipping from the hanger.

Fig. 2 illustrates one of the least expensive embodiments of my invention to manufacture.

A somewhat different form of hanger i illustrated in Fig. 4 which shows a hanger adapted to be supported from a yoke 9 designed to embrace the neck of one displaying the garment. The hook l0 which is employed in hanging the garment from the bar of the wardrobe is hingedly attached to the central portion of the cross member lb by means of the hinge H and may be dropped out of the way as shown by the dotted lines when a garment is being displayed. The yoke 9, as shown in Fig. 5, may be formed of wire with hooks l2 and I3 adapted to support the hanger as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The hanger of Fig. 1 may be supported by merely hooking the hook 2 over the shoulder, since it is pivotally attached to the cross-member, and

the fact that the point of suspension is somewhat off center is of little consequence if the hands are employed to hold the belt line of the garment to ones waist. Numerous other adaptations of my invention are obvious, only certain preferred embodiments being illustrated in the drawing.

The main advantages derived from the use of the devices of my invention are obvious. Garments such as dresses may be readily displayed without removal from their hangers and yet in :7

such a manner as to give the prospective purchaser a good idea of how they will appear when Y worn. The customer may thus hold the garment against the body while viewing the elfect in a mirror without assuming a difficult and unbecoming attitude. Not only will she be willing to inspect a larger number of garments but the salesgirl is enabled to quickly return them to the wardrobe without any fuss or bother. In addition, my new hangers are susceptible of manufacture at a cost no greater than those now in general use.

By eliminating the necessity of actually trying on all but a few selected dresses much of the usual annoyance due to pin scratches, broken glasses, hooks entangled in the hair and the like is avoided with a consequent improvement in the temper of the customer.

Among the particular embodiments of my invention contemplated in adddition to those illustrated are hangers of the general outline of that of Fig. 1 but cut from one piece of plywood or molded in plastic. The hook may also be of a type suitable to be hingedly attached to the garment supporting cross member so that the opening for insertion of the neck may be enlarged, a snap or clicker ordinarily holding the hook rigidly in place.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

'1. A garment hanger comprising a wooden gar ment supporting member downwardly arcuate in its central portion and a wire hook member pivotally attached thereto adjacent one end of said arcuate central portion. said hook member adapted to support said garment supporting member both from a supporting rod and a human neck.

2. A garment hanger comprising a garment supporting member downwardly arcuate in its central portion, and a hook member attached thereto adjacent one end of said downwardly arcuate central portion, said hook member and downwardly arcuate central portion in cooperation being operative to embrace a human neck.

3. A garment supporting and display device comprising a garment supporting member downwardly arcuate in its central portion, and means cooperating with said downwardly arcuate portion to embrace a human neck and suspend said garment supporting member therefrom.

IDA M. SINCLAIR. 

